Like all Australians I was shocked to hear of the destruction of Malaysian flight MH17. That shock turned to a sense of personal loss when I was informed that Sr Philomene Tiernan RSCJ was one of the passengers.

As people throughout the world reel from the senseless and heartbreaking loss of innocent lives of those on board MH17 the words of Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris, parents of Mo, Evie and Otis, who were killed along with grandfather Nick Norris, provide a beacon of hope in this tragedy.